(Yicai Global) June 4 -- State-owned contractor China Railway Construction Corporation has installed a third shield machine in Moscow ahead of the start of tunneling work for a subway construction project in the Russian capital, slated to start in mid-June.

The project, which represents the first time that Russia has brought in a foreign firm to work on its metro construction, is comprised of a 4.6-kilometer section, part of the city's third interchange loop line, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"The successful implementation of the project benefits from the high degree of cooperation between China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union strategy," CRCC Project Manager Xue Liqiang said.

The project also represents the first time that China has exported its subway technology, equipment and management services to the European market, Xue added.

CRCC won the bidding on the USD400 million project at the beginning of last year and started work in August. The line is expected to open in 2020.

Established in 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union is composed of five countries, namely, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. All five nations are important partners of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a grand 30 to 40-year national plan to develop vast infrastructure and trade routes embracing the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

Editor: William Clegg